Office



(No Model.)

J.L.OARNEY. CLASP.

Noi 605,219. Patented June 7,1898.

NIl ED" STATES PATENT l OFFICE.

JAMES-LESTER CARNEY, on NEW YORK, N. Y1

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,219, dated June 7, 1898.

- Application filed January 31, 1898. Serial No. 668,537. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES LESTER CARNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, (Brooklyn,) in the county of Kings and State of New Yorlg, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of clasps that are adapted as fasteners or supporters for stockings and garments; and the object of my invention is to simplify, to reduce the cost of, and increase the efficiency of such devices.

In carrying out my invention I provide a body-plate with a slot at one end, to which the fabric strip or elastic of the supporter is fastened, with jaw-teeth at the other end and with pivots at the edges; also, a clampingi plate with integral ears, pivots, and a spring at one end and jaw-teeth at the other end, the ears being perforated and receiving the pivots of the body-plate, and also a leverplate with integral cams engaging the pivots of the clamping-plate and located upon the opposite side of the body-plate, so that in its operation the lever-plate draws the clampingplate toward the body-plate, so as to nip and hold the stocking or other article between the ing a piece of fabric, such as a stocking. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the body-plate. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the clamping-plate. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the lever-plate; and Figs. 7 and 8 represent, by an elevation and edge view, a modification of the lever-plate.

The body-plate b is provided with a slot 2 at one end to receive the elastic fabric or strip of webbing a, which is secured to such plate.

integral with the plate. Y

This body-plate b is provided with pivots 3 upon opposite edges and with jaw-teeth b at the other end, the pivots and jaw-teethbeing The clamping-plate c is inadewith the integral ears 0 and pivots 4 therefrom, the integral spring 5, and jaw 0 the jaw being at one end of the plate and the ears and pivots and springs at the other end, the ears being The turned up at right angles to the plate a. lever-plate d is made with the integral cams. d on opposite edges, and the same are turned up at right angles to the plate. WVhen the parts are put together for use, the clampingplate is upon one side of the body-plate b and the lever-plate upon the other side, and the pivots 3 of the body-plate b are received in holes 7 in the ears 0, said ears straddling or passing at each side of and beyond the edges of the plate I), and the pivots 4c of said lugs c are received in holes 8 in the cams d of the lever-plate d.

In the normal position of the parts the spring 5 keeps the jaws b and c apart, and in this position the lever-plate is swung down toward the jaw end of the body-plate. In use the material to be grasped is placed between the jaws and the lever-plate d swung completely over, so that its cams act upon the surface of the body-plate b to draw the clamping-plate 0 toward the body-plate b and the jaw-teeth together to nip the fabric, and in this position the lever-plate is against the other end of the body-plate b-that is, toward being perforated for the pivots i have pivots 6 stamped out fromthe material composing the cams. In this instance the ear 0 instead ofbeing provided with pivot-lugs 4 are made with holes to receive the pivots 6, the one construction being the equivalent of the other.

The members of my improved clasp are simple in construction and efficient in operation, and being made of sheet metal with in tegral parts stamped up and bent to shape the cost of manufacture is reduced to a minimum.

I claim as my invention -The clasp herein set forth comprising a body-plate having a slot at one end" for a webbing or elastic fabric, jaw-teeth at the other end and pivots upon opposite edges, the clamping-plate having jaw-teeth at one end and integral pivot-ears and a spring at the other end, there being holes in the ears receiving the pivots of the body-plate and a lever-plate pivoted to the ears of the clamping-plate and having cams to not on the surface of the body-plate as the lever-plate is swung from one position to the other to open and close the jaws, substantially as set forth. IO

Signed by me this 26th day of January,

A. D. 1898. v o

J. LESTER OARNEY. XV itnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, HAROLD SERRELL. 

